In 2023, The Bold and the Beautiful’s Annika Noelle took us on quite a journey as Hope Logan transformed into a new woman and perhaps the woman she always was and was meant to be. Gone was the good girl who did what she was told as a strong, confident woman who embraced her sexuality emerged.
As 2024 begins, Noelle is ready to take us on another journey as she wonders if she made a mistake by believing Thomas Forrester had changed and choosing to be in a relationship with him after her toxic marriage ended. Hope’s newfound carefree joy came to a screeching halt the week of January 8-12 when she learned of a dark moment from Thomas’s past that she wished had stayed in the past, earning Noelle this week’s spot as B&B’s Performer of the Week.
Hope’s Joy Turns To Frustration
While Thomas’s (Matthew Atkinson) sudden marriage proposal to end the soap year took Hope by sheer surprise, she seemed to settle into pre-engagement mode, wearing the ring Thomas gave her on a necklace because she wasn’t ready to be married again — yet.
She had confidence in her relationship when flirting with Thomas in front of Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and the love she still couldn’t express with words was apparent when she and Thomas were finally alone. Hope happily invited Thomas to her home for dinner and then went back to her little cabin to prepare a romantic night of candles and wine as she awaited Thomas’s arrival.
However, just like the last time she planned such a night with Thomas, ex-husband Liam (Scott Clifton) showed up unannounced for no other apparent reason but to rattle Hope’s confidence in her decisions. As soon as he heard Xander Avant (Adain Bradley) was back in LA making accusations against Thomas (and was not at all surprised), Liam reminded Hope of all Thomas had done to them in 2019 in his typical condescending and calculated way.
Immediately, Noelle showed us Hope’s demeanor change as she once again seemed tongue-tied in front of Liam as she frequently was when they were married. However, she caught herself and fought back, defending Thomas and refusing to believe a word Liam said.
Hope’s Later Joy Turns To Horror
Once Liam was gone and Thomas arrived, the joy was back on Hope’s face as she looked forward to a loving evening and not one filled with sneering Liam. Every mannerism Noelle gives Hope when she is around Thomas speaks of love even if she cannot verbalize the words. Her eyes also show her feelings.
But both her face and her eyes changed in an instant when Thomas insisted on coming clean about the night Emma died once and for all. He knew honesty was needed for he and Hope’s romance to succeed and Hope immediately knew she was going to hear something that would rock her world — and not in a good way.
Noelle brought all of Hope’s trepidations about being with Thomas to the surface in a matter of seconds as she realized Xander and Liam were right — Thomas was involved the night Emma’s car crashed. Her voice trembled, her confused face gave way to horror, and she demanded the truth.
As of this writing, Thomas has yet to tell Hope the whole story, but it is coming, as well as more heartbreaking performances from both Noelle and Matthew Atkinson.
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